Casinos: Gambling Machines

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of any link between the number of machines allowed in casinos and the extent of problem gambling.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department has not made a specific assessment of the link between the number of machines allowed in casinos and the extent of problem gambling. However, the Gambling Commission has undertaken research into what can be done to understand the impact of high stake, high prize gaming machines on problem gambling in general, the results of which were reported to me in July 2009. Among other things, this work commented on the availability and accessibility of gaming machines in gambling venues across Britain.
	Subsequently, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board's initial recommendations and priorities for research, education and treatment into problem gambling published on 14 October 2009, has highlighted that early priority should be given to developing a programme of work around high stake high prize gaming machines building on the initial work undertaken by the Gambling Commission.

Bars

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010,  Official Report, columns 825-6W, on bars, when staff assigned to duties in Bellamy's Bar, Bellamy's Club Room and the Astor Suite were informed of the proposed closure of these facilities; and whether the House of Commons has consulted associations representing those staff on the matter.

Nick Harvey: The director of catering and retail services met with staff employed in the Bellamy's catering facilities on Wednesday 16 December 2009 to announce the Commission's decision on Monday 14 December to convert Bellamy's Bar, the Club Room and the Astor Suite into a children's nursery.
	Staff trade union representatives were present at the staff meeting at the invitation of the director. Formal consultation between management and trade union representatives will be commenced as soon as an outline timetable for the closure of the affected facilities has been drafted.

Olympic Games 2012: West Midlands

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she is taking to ensure the West Midlands obtains a legacy from the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games established the Nations and Regions Group to ensure UK-wide engagement and to maximise the legacy of London 2012. This group works directly with representatives from each of the nations and English regions to maximise the sporting, commercial, cultural and other benefits of the 2012 Games.
	So far 193 tenders for services relating to the 2012 Games have been won by companies based in the west midlands via CompeteFor, the electronic brokerage service which enables businesses to compete for contract opportunities linked to London 2012, and facilitates access to focused business support.
	Over £6 million has been secured to support an extensive programme of events and cultural activity across the west midlands in the run up to 2012. There are over 845 schools registered on 'Get Set', LOCOG's domestic education programme for London 2012.
	The west midlands has also identified opportunities to host a range of pre-Games training camps and has confirmed that both the American and Jamaican athletics teams will be based in Birmingham in the run-up to the Games.

Waste Management

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is his policy to identify waste streams that should not be disposed of  (a) in landfill and  (b) by incineration.

Dan Norris: The Government consider that landfill should be the last resort for most wastes where more sustainable options are available but recognise that landfill may continue to have a role in the disposal of certain hazardous wastes and as a means of restoring exhausted mineral workings.
	Some types of waste are already banned from landfill under EU legislation. The EU Landfill Directive bans the landfilling of liquids, wastes which are explosive, corrosive, oxidising, highly flammable or flammable, hospital and clinical wastes and whole or shredded used tyres.
	The Landfill Directive further limits the waste that may be disposed of at individual landfill sites by classifying them into one of three types, inert, non-hazardous or hazardous.
	The Government are assessing the case for introducing further restrictions on the landfilling of biodegradable and recyclable wastes. DEFRA and the devolved administrations have commissioned further research on the environmental, economic and practical impacts of introducing further restrictions. We aim to consult on the options for introducing further restrictions early this year.
	In addition, the EU Batteries Directive introduced a ban on disposing of automotive and industrial batteries both via landfill and incineration.
	In line with the waste hierarchy set out in the Government's Waste Strategy 2007 and the Revised Waste Framework Directive, it is preferable to prevent, reuse and recycle waste. However, recovering energy from residual waste via a combination of complimentary processes, including incineration, is preferable in both environmental and economic terms to landfill. The waste must be treated in a facility compliant with the Waste Incineration Directive. This applies stringent regulations to emissions from incineration to protect health and the environment. Landfill sites and incinerators are subject to the requirement for an environmental permit, the terms and conditions of which may further restrict the types and quantities of waste that may be handled.

Offensive Weapons and Drugs: Schools

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils in Northern Ireland were found to be in illegal possession of  (a) a weapon and  (b) drugs on school premises in 2008-09.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the chief constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 182W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Criminal Justice Task Force project is; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason its funding was reduced in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and how much it received from his Department in each such year.

Ivan Lewis: The aim of the Criminal Justice Task Force (CJTF) project is to support the development of an Afghan-owned system for dealing with serious narcotics cases in Afghanistan that deters involvement in the industry through the handling and prosecution of a sustained number of influential individuals. The CJTF received £1.63 million of funding in 2006-07, £2,142,180 in 2007-08, £1,375,532 in 2008-09, and we expect to contribute £1,275,600 in 2009-10.
	The CJTF project required significant investment in one-off start-up costs in financial year 2007-08. Costs were lower in subsequent years as Afghan capacity increased, allowing Afghans to take on more of the roles and better value for money. This ongoing project is meeting its programme goals and is contributing to UK strategic objectives. It has seen a year on year increase in quality convictions, and last year successfully prosecuted its first high-level trafficker, who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 183W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Ministry of Counter Narcotics Communication project was; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason his Department ceased to fund the programme in 2006-07; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness.

Ivan Lewis: The Ministry of Counter Narcotics Communication Project (MCNCP) supported capacity building in the Afghan Ministry for Counter Narcotics to engage with the media. Specifically, the project enabled the Ministry for Counter Narcotics to oversee a national public awareness campaign, broadcasting on Kabul and provincial radio stations.
	MCNCP supported the delivery of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Departmental Strategic Objective 6, to Prevent and Resolve Conflict.
	MCNCP received £820,000 in FY2006-07. Capacity building support for the Afghan Ministry for Counter Narcotics is now conducted under another project with a wider scope. The MCNCP was regularly reviewed and met its programme goals.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 183W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, what the purpose of the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan Mobile Detection Teams project was; for what reason his Department decided to fund the project; how much it received from his Department in its first year of operation; for what reason his Department ceased to fund the programme in 2008-09; and what assessment has been made of its effectiveness.

Ivan Lewis: The Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan Mobile Detection Teams project was intended to provide training, mentoring and equipment for the creation of Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA) mobile drugs detection teams. The aim of the project was to increase the Afghan Government's drug interdiction capacity. The project received £7.8 million in its first year (2005-06).
	The project delivered in enabling the CNPA to achieve some substantial narcotics seizures. In 2007 and 2008 the teams seized drugs with a UK street value of more than £100 million, including half a ton of heroin. In 2008-09 the UK's priorities shifted to focussing on interdicting trafficking networks further up the supply chain and at targets with stronger links to the insurgency. Funding for the project was discontinued in 2008-09 after it was assessed that it would not have delivered sufficiently against the new priority.

Africa: Travel Information

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department provided travel advice to the organisers of the  (a) Plymouth-Dakar Challenge and  (b) Adventurists Africa Rally prior to those events.

Ivan Lewis: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials from the Counter Terrorism Department met organisers of the Plymouth-Dakar Challenge and the Adventurists' Africa rally on 9 December 2009. Both teams agreed to end their rallies in Morocco after discussing the travel advice, which is available on the FCO website, and their planned routes which passed through areas to which we advise against all travel.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on what date and by what means the decision was taken to hold the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation over a 14-week period; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) minutes of meetings and  (b) correspondence in which the duration of the consultation was discussed.

Paul Clark: The Government's Code of Practice on Written Consultation recommends 12 weeks as the standard minimum period for consultation, but notes this should take account of circumstances, including whether it spans a substantial holiday period. The 14 week period for the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation in November 2007 reflected that guidance and was confirmed by the then Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Bolton, West (Ruth Kelly) and proposed in her letter to cabinet colleagues on 1 October 2007 seeking clearance to the consultation. Clearance was given on 12 November 2007.

Pensions: Financial Assistance Scheme

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she expects to bring into force the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulation 2010; and what estimate she has made of the losses incurred as a result of the failure of occupational pension schemes operating under the existing regulations.

Angela Eagle: We hope to bring the Regulations into force by spring 2010, subject to parliamentary approval.
	FAS will provide help totalling £3.5 billion to around 150,000 people who would otherwise have lost out because their defined benefit pension schemes wound up under-funded.

Health Services: Isle of Man

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2010,  Official Report, column 476W, on health services: Isle of Man, if he will  (a) place in the Library and  (b) provide to the Isle of Man authorities a copy of the dataset used in the calculation of the allocation of funding provided to the Isle of Man under the present bilateral agreement.

Gillian Merron: The Isle of Man provided the dataset used in the calculation of the allocation of funding provided to the Isle of Man under the current bilateral healthcare agreement with the United Kingdom. As it contains personal data, it cannot be place it in the Library.

Council Tax

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 5 January 2010,  Official Report, column 213W, on council tax, what information his Department holds on the  (a) type and  (b) level of discount offered by each authority named in the answer.

Barbara Follett: The information held by Communities and Local Government in respect of local council tax discounts in operation under the Local Government Act 2003 offered by each authority in England consists of indicators to show if (a) the authority has used this power to reduce the council tax payable between 1 April and 5 October 2009, and (b) if the authority plans to use this power between the 6 October 2009 and 31 March 2010. In addition the authority is required to provide details of the circumstances in which they have reduced, or will reduce, the amount payable; any classes of case in respect of which a reduction has been, or will be granted and the reduction granted.
	The data are reported on CTB (Supplementary) forms submitted annually in October by all billing authorities in England to Communities and Local Government.

Fire Services: Disadvantaged

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 11 November 2009,  Official Report, column 378W, on the Equality Bill, what assessment has been made of the likely effect of a duty to tackle socio-economic disadvantage of the effectiveness of the Fire and Rescue Service in  (a) preventing and  (b) tackling fires.

Michael Jabez Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	Where the socio-economic duty applies to fire and rescue authorities, it will ensure that they continue to focus their preventative work on the households and areas that are most at risk of fire, and encourage and support their joint working on this with key partners. The duty will not affect the work of fire and rescue services in tackling fires.

Paper

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 9 December 2009,  Official Report, column 390W, on departmental electronic equipment, how much his Department spent on photocopier paper in the latest year for which figures are available.

Barbara Follett: During the 12 months ending December 2009 the Department has spent £88,289.68 on photocopier paper.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many  (a) documents and  (b) other types of information held in electronic format at each level of security classification the Iraq Inquiry has requested from her Department; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information held in electronic format by her Department of each security classification have been submitted to the Iraq Inquiry; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  whether any  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information in electronic format sought from her Department by the Iraq Inquiry have not been disclosed owing to the Government's obligations to foreign governments or international bodies; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of the  (a) documents and  (b) other items of information held in electronic format at each level of security classification requested by the Iraq Inquiry have been provided to it by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 December 2009,  Official Report, columns 840-41W, by the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Angela E. Smith).

Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which Ministers are given access to UK position papers on negotiations on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

David Lammy: I am the Minister responsible-for Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). My officials regularly liaise with the officials from other Departments (FCO, HMRC, MOJ, BIS) who keep their relevant Ministers within their Departments informed where necessary.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of undergraduates studying  (a) part-time and  (b) full-time were from low participation neighbourhoods in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is provided in the table. Figures are provided for young (under 21) and mature (21 and over) part-time and full-time undergraduate entrants to higher education institutions in England, for the academic years 2006/07 and 2007/08. Figures for earlier academic years are not directly comparable, due to a change in the methodology used to calculate the proportion of students who are from low participation neighbourhoods.
	Information for the 2008/09 academic year will be available from HESA in April.
	
		
			  Proportion of undergraduate entrants from low participation neighbourhoods, English higher education institutions, academic years 2006/07 and 2007/08 
			  Percentage 
			   Part-time  Full-time 
			  Academic year  Young  Mature( 1)   Young  Mature( 1)  
			 2006/07 13.0 6.7 10.1 12.0 
			 2007/08 13.0 6.8 10.3 11.5 
			 (1) The participation rate for mature entrants excludes students who have a previous HE qualification.  Note: Percentages have been rounded to one decimal place.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency Performance Indicators.